Mike Bailey-Gates is a prodigy.

Just born in 1993, this young man's work seems to be some of an adult with a lifetime of experience.  I am still amazed looking at his website.  He is 17 years old!  You have to see for yourself: Mike Bailey-Gates.   I am sure we can expect on seeing his talent in the future.  Truly astonishing.

I am in love with this concept.

Untitled, a photo by Mike Bailey-Gates on Flickr. These photos appear in a story for HEART Magazine 2010

Actually Going Green

I've discovered a whole new way to Go Green with this brilliant jewelry designed by Colleen Jordan

You can now carry along a little piece of nature right by your heart.  

No matter how chaotic, complicated, and difficult your day may seem, you can take a deep breath of the clean air from your very own travel companion. 

Sometimes you just need a reminder of the simple, beautiful things in life.

: )

You can find this piece and other lovely finds at Colleen's Etsy Shop

AMAZING Wedding Invitations!

Paper Record Player from kellianderson on Vimeo.

This is the most original and creative invite I have ever seen! Designed by Kelli Anderson for her friends Karen Sandler and Mike Tarantino. The invitation actually turns into a paper record player, and plays a song recorded by the engaged couple! Brilliant!!

To see the whole story go to Kelli's Site

Creamy Tomato Soup

The weather has been rainy and gloomy here for a while now. I am trying to think of ways to cheer myself up, and find something enjoyable out of this awful weather. And what better way to be stuck inside, than to snuggle up with a bowl of warm tomato soup? I had never made any kind of soup before, and I thought that I had to start somewhere! So I browsed the web looking for recipes and ended up with the very basics.



Ingredients:
4 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 cups milk
2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon (scant) ground black pepper
2 cans (14.5 ounces each) diced tomatoes, undrained
chopped basil leaves or fresh grated Parmesan, optional


Preparation:
In a large saucepan, heat butter over medium-low heat. Stir in flour until well incorporated. Gradually stir in milk and add the sugar, salt, and pepper. Continue to heat, stirring, until the mixture thickens and begins to boil. Heat tomatoes in a separate saucepan then gradually add them to the first mixture, stirring constantly. If you want, make it look fancy with freshly grated Parmesan cheese or fresh chopped basil leaves. I served mine with bread because I love to dip it into the soup.

I would have to say that I did an excellent job! I am proud of myself and my family enjoyed it as well! The recipe made enough soup for my family of 5, and we had some leftover for the next gloomy day.
Enjoy! : )